Lucknow: In a desperate move to check the ongoing crisis, Internet has been shut down completely in Azamgarh, the eastern UP district where communal tension broke out on Sunday. Though situation has been brought under control, as a precautionary measure the local administration has decided to suspend broadband and mobile internet services up to May 18. This is the first time part of Uttar Pradesh would be cut off from the worldwide web. Since 2013, internet services have been banned in Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Harayana, Rajasthan, Manipur and Nagaland whenever law and order situation went out of control. Learning lessons from communal riots that erupted in Muzaffarnagar district and at Dadri in Noida, the state government decided moved swiftly this time to clamp Net connectivity. During Muzaffarnagar and Dadri riots, there was aggressive rumour mongering through social media to stoke up communal passions.

Azamgarh district magistrate Suhas L Y said, “Social media platforms were being used actively to spread misleading reports so as preventive measure, it was decided to put Internet services on hold till the time situation improves. We will take a call on May 18.”

Azamgarh residents can make voice calls and exchange text messages but they will not be able to use Internet. IG STF Ram Kumar said private mobile and Net companies as well as BSNL were asked to press ‘Internet kill switch’ for the time being. “We had been following up with all the seven private mobile companies and BSNL as well as broadband providers in Azamgarh throughout Monday. Services were blocked around 6pm finally,” said Kumar.

Azamgarh district native Ram Bihari stepped out of the house in the evening. “I had gone to Mubarakpur market. I could not access internet and checked with others. Nobody could use internet,” he said.

Jio’s Rs 2,399 annual plan offers 2GB per day data that costs effectively Rs 200 per month. It also offers unlimited voice and SMS. Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s Rs 2398 and Rs 2399 annual plans, on the other hand, offer 1.5GB per day data along with unlimited voice and SMS